PACE OF PLAY POLICIES
The Rules of Golf require that a player must play without unreasonable delay (Rule 5.6a). Rule 5.6b(3) states in part: “To encourage and enforce prompt play, the Committee should adopt a Local Rule setting Pace of Play Policy. This Policy may set a minimum time to complete a round, a hole or a series of holes and a stroke, and it may set penalties for not following this Policy”. In accordance with Rule 5.6b(3), Golf Ontario has adopted the following Pace of Play Policy.
STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS & QUALIFYING ROUNDS (GROUP PACE OF PLAY)
Allotted Time
Each group is allotted a specific amount of time to complete a group of holes and the round at a pace in accordance with the applicable course’s Pace of Play Time Chart. A Pace of Play Time Chart will be established at each course. When a group falls out of position, regardless of the reason, it must regain its position. Time for ball searches, rulings, and walking time between holes is also included in the allotted time.
Checkpoints: Four (championships) or Two (qualifying rounds) checkpoints will be designated throughout the course.
Normally completion of holes # 4, # 9, #13 and # 18 will be the designated checkpoints for championships. Completion of holes # 9 and # 18 will be the designated checkpoints for qualifying rounds.
Play of a checkpoint is deemed completed when all players in the group have completed play of the hole and the flagstick has been replaced in the hole after the last player’s ball is holed and/or if the last player makes a stroke with the flagstick in the hole, as soon as his/her ball is holed AND the ball is removed from the hole.
Note: If a group or player incurs a penalty, the penalty will be applied to the checkpoint hole where the breach occurred.
Definition of “Out of Position”
First Group: The first group (off the 1st and 10th holes, both morning and afternoon) to start will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, they exceed the time allotted to complete a checkpoint, as detailed on the applicable course’s Pace of Play Time Chart. This also includes a first group after a Starter’s Time.
Note: In the event of a split-tee draw (starting on both holes #1 and #10), the first group to start off each tee (#1 and #10) becomes a “following group” when they are delayed by the last group to start from the opposite tee.
Following Groups: A following group is out of position if it:
- takes more than the time expected to complete a checkpoint AND
- completes play of a checkpoint more than 14 minutes (14:59) after the preceding group completed play of that hole.
Time charts outlining the time per hole, including the finish times for the checkpoint holes, are given on the hole location sheets and scorecards.
Penalties
When a group is out of position at any checkpoint, all the players in the group are liable to the following schedule of penalties, pending final determination of whether a breach or breaches of these guidelines have occurred:
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- 1st missed checkpoint – warning (qualifying rounds and championships)
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- 2nd missed checkpoint – liable to a 1 stroke penalty (qualifying rounds and championships)
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- 3rd missed checkpoint – liable to an additional 2 stroke penalty (championships only)
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- 4th missed checkpoint – liable to disqualification (championships only)
Note: If a group has not received a warning at a previous checkpoint hole, but is out of position at the final checkpoint, each player in the group is liable to a penalty of one stroke if no effort was made by the players to complete their round within the time expected for the final checkpoint.
Note: In circumstances where the Committee deems fit, the penalties under Rule 5.6a may still apply.
MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS (INDIVIDUAL PACE OF PLAY)
Allotted Time
Please refer to the Golf Ontario Pace of Play Time Chart, which is available for all players at each event.
Definition of “Out of Position”
The first match to start will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round it exceeds the time allotted to play, as detailed on the applicable course’s Pace of Play Time Chart (Time Par). Subsequent matches will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, they (a) exceed the allotted time to play and (b) arrive at the teeing area of a hole that is open and free of play.
Monitoring of Matches
A match that is out of position will be so informed by the Committee. However, the Committee reserves the right to time any match that the Committee deems is out of position, whether or not the match has been informed.
Timing
The timing of a player’s stroke will begin when it is the player’s turn to play without interference or distraction. Any time spent determining yardages will count as time taken for the next stroke. On the putting green, timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to mark, lift, clean and replace his/her ball, repair damage and remove loose impediments on the line of play. Any player in a match which is out of position shall be penalized for unreasonable delay of play if, during the round, he or she twice takes 40 seconds or more to play a stroke.
An extra 10 seconds (for a total of 50 seconds) will be allowed for:
- the first player to make a stroke from the teeing area;
- the first player to make a second stroke on a par-4 or par-5 hole (when attempting to reach the putting green);
- the first player to make a third stroke on a par-5 hole; or
- the first player to make a stroke on the putting green
If a match, which is out of position, regains its position, timing of players will cease. Timing may recommence if the match subsequently falls out of position, in which case any recorded timing exceeding 40 seconds anytime during the round will be carried over throughout the round. Such matches out of position will not be notified of monitoring and timing unless asked by the player(s).
Unreasonable delay of play can also occur between strokes (such as by walking too slowly) and between the play of two holes.
Penalties
Any player in a match out of position who exceeds 40 seconds to play a stroke on two occasions will be informed as soon as practicable that the player has lost the hole at which the second excess time was recorded. If the player in question exceeds 40 seconds to play a stroke on two more occasions while the match remains or has again become out of position (a total of four), the player will be informed as soon as practicable that he or she has been disqualified.
SHOTGUN STARTS (INDIVIDUAL PACE OF PLAY)
Allotted Time
Please refer to the Golf Ontario Pace of Play Time Chart, which is available for all players at each event.
Definition of “Out of Position”
Any group will be considered out of position if it (a) is taking more than the allotted time to play and (b) reaches the teeing area of a par-3 hole and the preceding group has cleared the next tee; reaches the teeing area of a par-4 hole and the putting green is clear or reaches the teeing area of a par-5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green. Both (a) and (b) must apply for a group to be out of position.
Monitoring of Groups
A group that is out of position will be so informed by the Committee. However, the Committee reserves the right to time any group that the Committee deems is out of position, whether or not the group has been informed.
Timing
If a group is out of position, it may be monitored or timed for failing to comply with the Pace of Play guideline. When a group is out of position each player in the group is expected to make any stroke within 40 seconds after timing of the player’s stroke begins.
Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player’s stroke will begin when he or she has had reasonable opportunity to reach his/her ball, it is his/her turn to play and can play without interference or distraction. Time spent determining yardage will count as time taken for the next stroke.
On the putting green, timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean and replace his/her ball and repair damage and remove loose impediments on the line of play. Time spent looking at the line of play from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke.
NOTE: A player is permitted 40 seconds to make a stroke. An extra 10 seconds (for a total of 50 seconds) will be allowed for:
- the first player to make a stroke from the teeing area;
- the first player to make a second stroke on a par-4 or par-5 hole (when attempting to reach the putting green);
- the first player to make a third stroke on a par-5 hole; or
- the first player to make a stroke on the putting green
NOTE: The Committee reserves the right, at any time, to time a group when the Committee deems it necessary. Players should also be aware that the Committee may assess a “bad time” to a player in a group which is out of position if the player makes no effort to help his group get back in position. An example of this would be a player who unreasonably delays play between strokes.
Penalties
The following are the penalties, in sequence, for any player in a group being timed who takes more than the allotted time to play a stroke after timing of the player’s stroke begins:
- One bad timing exceeding the allotted time — warning
- A second bad timing — 1 stroke penalty,
- A third bad timing — Additional 2 stroke penalty
- A fourth bad timing — Disqualification
NOTE: If the group in question regains its proper position, any previous timings of more than the allotted time will be carried over for the remainder of that round in the event that group requires additional monitoring. Any group with a player(s) who has a bad time will be notified if the group requires additional monitoring and time during the round
APPEALS FOR ALL FORMS OF PLAY
Slow play penalties may be appealed to the Tournament Appeals Committee. The appeal must be in writing and must be based on facts relevant to the reason Pace of Play was not maintained. The decision of the Tournament Appeals Committee will be final. If a player in question does not appeal immediately upon conclusion of his or her round, any penalties shall stand.
For qualifying rounds, all appeals must be made in writing and returned to a Referee before leaving the course.